set value of variable from cell
 

I'm trying to check cells within a column. Check a2, then a4, then a6 then
a8, etc. If the cell is blank, test the next in the series. When a cell is
not blank, take the value from that cell and place it into a variable.

If the columns are dates, like Column A is the 1st... I want the value of
the first filled cell in column A to be placed into a variable like var1st
which has been publicly declared as string.

Is that enough info? I'm running Excel 2002.

Thanks!